Georgia Tech Whips Miami on 472 Rush Yards

What a night for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, completely gutting a previously resurgent Miami defense to the tune of 472 rush yards. It was the second-highest ground total ever surrendered by a Miami defense. Just last week we saw Miami hold Virginia Tech to 77 rushing yards and two yards a carry to go with six sacks in a 16-14 victory. Tonight was another story altogether as Georgia Tech ripped off a 41-23 victory that was not as close as the scoreboard would indicate.

In just the 11th game of Paul Johnson's brief tenure in Atlanta, he coached a masterpiece. At one point, four separate players were a threat to break 100 yards rushing, with a fifth totaling an additional 47 yards. Instead, only one player did so but in a big way. Tailback Jonathan Dwyer, the nation's next great option back, notched two touchdowns and 128 yards in the first half on just 10 carries including a highlight-reel 58 yard scamper.

This one was gory folks. Even Tech's defense got in on the action, with NFL-worthy defensive end Michael Johnson taking an interception back 26 yards for an early touchdown. But let's talk about the run game some more, as this was an exciting display of brilliant old-school football.

Tech softened Miami's defense up early with a surprising pass attack, but soon settled into a big-play run attack. In the first half alone they ripped off runs of 35, 14, 29, 12, 58, 54 and 10 yards.

Nearly every Yellow Jacket player got in on the action, gleefully ripping off long runs feasting on the chum trail Miami left for them. Dwyer's backup Roddy Jones had a long run of 40 yards, and finished with 97 and almost 14 yards/carry. Quarterback Josh Nesbitt had a 54-yarder and finished with 93 yards. Nesbitt's backup freshman Jaybo Shaw ripped off a 27-yarder on his way to 47 yards in the fourth quarter. Kept quiet most of the game, fullback Lucas Cox exploded for 78 yards of his own, capped by a 32-yarder. Stunningly, most of the runs were right up the gut at the heart of the Miami defense. Where's Ray Lewis when you need him?

Clearly, the triple option offense can work in a major football conference, and could be an effective rebuttal to the rise of the spread-option offenses run rampant in the game. It won't lure or produce a ton of NFL players like USC's pro-style attack will, but it can sure destroy its share of solid opponents in the college game. Ask Miami.

The win gives Georgia Tech a fighting shot at winning the ACC Coastal Division and competing for a BCS bowl appearance. Kudos to coach Paul Johnson for succeeding with a new system where -- so far -- Rich Rodriguez hasn't been able to thrive with a similar attack at a better program.

Meanwhile, Miami is left licking some serious wounds. Chances are the players will go unscathed as this is a young team that can laugh this off, but the loss will go down as one of the worst in modern Miami history. There were some lean years of late, but it seems Randy Shannon had begun turning Miami around to conference contender status. However, this is a major setback that some very proud and loud fans won't easily forget.

Regardless, as much as I love the forward pass and hate seeing Miami suffer (college football is better when Miami is doing well), tonight was a brilliant and beautiful display of a great running game doing some explosive things we normally associate with the country's high-powered passing attacks. More such outings will be on the way.